INTRODUCTION TO EN PLEIN AIR PAINTING
~ A day long workshop exploring the MacIntosh Run Trail System with Geoffrey Grantham ~

Saturday, July 11, 2026
(In case of rain, Sunday, July 12)
8:30am - 3:30pm = 7 total hours

Discover the joy and immediacy of painting outdoors in this one-day introduction to en plein air painting (working either oil or acrylic) with celebrated landscape painter Geoffrey Grantham.

Designed for painters who already have some experience working in the studio and now want to expand into painting directly from nature, this workshop introduces the unique challenges and rewards of working on location. The day begins outdoors in the beautiful MacIntosh Run Trail System, where participants will spend approximately five hours painting directly in the landscape. Geoffrey will demonstrate how to quickly assess a scene and translate it into a compelling composition while working within the changing conditions of natural light.

Participants will learn practical strategies for painting outdoors, including:

• How to set up and manage your space
• Selecting and simplifying a landscape subject
• Establishing strong compositions in unfamiliar environments
• Managing changing light and atmosphere
• Working efficiently with limited materials
• Blocking in large shapes and values before refining colour
• Capturing mood, movement, and seasonal character

Special attention will be given to developing the confidence to make quick observational decisions, allowing painters to respond to the landscape rather than becoming overwhelmed by detail.

Following the outdoor session, participants will move into the studio for a two-hour reflection and development session along with artist Christopher Webb, where paintings from the day will be reviewed and discussed. Geoffrey will demonstrate how outdoor studies can be strengthened, adjusted, and used as the foundation for larger studio paintings.

By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a completed plein air study and the tools needed to confidently continue painting outdoors on their own.

This workshop is ideal for painters who have worked in oil or acrylic and are curious about experiencing the landscape directly through paint.

When:  Saturday, July 11, 2026 (In case of rain, Sunday, July 12)

Where: Meet at Suite 201 - 995 Herring Cove Road, Herring Cove, Nova Scotia, B3V-1H6, the the outdoor session takes place at the trail head area of the MacIntosh Run Trail System at the Norawarren Drive entrance.

Fee: $125.00 (tax inc.)

Min. Participants: 6  |  Max Participants: 14

Registration: to register for the session or for more information, please email Christopher at info@cwebb.ca and he will respond within 1 day.

Meet your instructor

Geoffrey Grantham (b. 1970) began painting en plein air early in his career, in 1995. He works throughout his Nova Scotia, repeatedly returning to certain inspiring locations, mainly, the globally rare barrens found in the Purcell’s Cove Backlands. He also ventures to the stark, majestic Cape Breton Highlands and the expansive Annapolis Valley. Grantham’s multi-layered, powerful, and complex paintings capture the uniqueness of the Province’s landscapes and their infinitely changing moods. 

Grantham finds it thrilling to witness and paint moments of intense beauty, direct from nature. Feeling compelled to capture the essence of each season, this very profound and rewarding experience finds its way into his art practice. Working in the en plein air technique allows an immediate connection with the landscape and his interpretation of it. This results in work that is spontaneous, passionate, and fresh. Grantham has exhibited in galleries including Argyle Fine Art (Halifax), Gallery on Queen (Fredericton), and PAVIA Gallery. His work can be found in private collections across North America and Europe.